Flush tank



April 14, 1925.

2 Sheets-Shes@ 1 wuenoz o. M 19111110@ Summa April 14, .1925.

1,533,884 C. M. MINTON FLUSH TANK l Filed Julyl'14-I 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Il s l J l s 1o '63 1L S o- .0 i w l;

` /fwl l 5S 51. 11

Hl A 52 2o '37 4?" /53 so 4f i t Hm 1 i 3 l l o "I 15 a, 43 M@ L i wvntoa:

C.. Minion Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

CHARLES MONROE MINTON. or PHILOMATH, OREGON.

FLUSH TANK.

Application filed July 14, 1922. Serial No. '574,937'.

To all .1o/0m t muy concer-71.'

Be it known that I, Crnnums M.l MrNfroN, a citizen oi the lnited States, and resident of Philoniath, in the county o'l Benton and State oit Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F lush Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to `flush tanks for water closets and it consists in the combina.- tions, constructions and arrangenients herein described and claimed.

An object ot' my .invention to provide a tank ol the character described which affords facilities tor supplying desired quantitie-s of A\vater to an associated part and which includes improved automatic means for con trolling the tioiv ot Water from the tank to insure the maintenance of a predetermined quantity of Water VWithin the tank, While the latter is inactive. f

Other ob'ects and advantao'es will be a parent from the following description, and

the novel features o-- the linvention will be particularly outlined 1n the appended claims..

My invention is illustrated in the accom,n panyingf drawings, forming a part of this application, in which-- )Figure l is a perspective view showing a practical embodiment ot' the invention A0peratively applied.

.Figure is an enlarged longitudinal verticalsection through the tank exhibited in Figure l;

Figure is a section along the line 5SH-3 of Figure .Figure l. is a fragmentary end elevation ot alioat comprised in the device, showing also certain elements appartenant thereto, and

Figure is a vieiv showingin side elevation a fragmentary portion ofthe ioat eX- hibited in Figure il, together with a springcatch and other elen'ients associated there# with.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a tank designated generally at T Which is supportedin a relatively elevated position' in any suitable manner and is connected by a delivery conduit D to a closet bowl H which is positioned at a lower level than the tank, as is usual. A. supply conduit S extends horiZontalljT from a Wall connection K with a source ot water supply to a point directly above the tank 'l and then extends `vertically 'loivnvvard through the upper part ot the tank l into the intmim' ot' the latter,

as will hereinafter appear.. al valve V is preferably provided inthe supply conduit betweenlthe tank and the Wall; connection and may be ot' any suitable type oi? con- The tank T comprises an outer casing-1 which is preferably made of Wood and is open at its upper end. The Walls ot the outercasing l are relativelyv thick. Closely intertitting the outer casing l so that the upper end oit' the Walls theieolI are flush with the upper ends of the correslionding wallsot the 'casingh is an inner casing made ol metal of relatively thin gauze. A. block 3 extending transversely olf the tank at one end thereotI is superiinl'iosed at its ends upon the side Walls of the'casing l and upon one end vrall of the latter, being secured in position by means of screws l or the like. The vertical portion ot' the supply pipe S extends through the block 3 and depends `within the interiorot' the inner casing 2 to a point adjacent to but short of the bott-om` of. the inner casing, as best seen in Figure 2.' A valve 5 provided inthe supplyconduit S adjacent to the lower end ol the latter controls the tlovv of liquid therethrough into the tank T. The valve has a horizontal stem portion 6, to the outer end roifavhich is pivotally attached an operating arm 7. The operating lnei'nher is of barlike formation and. has the end thereof remote from the valve positioned between upstanding lugs o" on a. plate Q'Which is an integral part of a rod l0 adapted to a tubu f lar holder 'll which is tixedly secured upon theupper face of a float The. bar 7 is attachedby a. horizontal pivot 13 to the lugs Hand both the bar '7 and 'the rod 11 are capable of vlimited nioveinei'it relatively to each other about the axis of the pivot l5.

The .tloat l2 is provided with` pairs of spaced vertical guide members 14, 14 at opposite ends thereof, which guide members are substantially V-shaped in cross sectional contour and a-readaptedto slidablyengage vertical guide members or rails l5 which are arranged in pairsy at opposite sidesI of the tank adjacent to one end ot the latter, being secured to the inner side walls of 'the inner casing,` i? jin any lsuitable known manner. The arrangen'ient i is free to nuove ve'rtn'ally in response to the rise and tall oit' a liquid Within thetank but is hield against any appreciable.l lateral or horizontal. movement relatively tothe tank.

.uch that the float remote troni the valve disk 2l.

end ot the arm T remote from the valve will be caused by upward movement ot the float l2 'from its lovi'ermost position. This upward movement ot the arm T causes a movement ot' thc valve 5 troni open toward closed. position and thevalve 5 will be completely closed Awhen the float is adjacent to the upper end oi the tank, as illustratedin Figures 2 and lil, whereupon turther upward movement ol' the tioat is proventi-rd.

lt is to be observed at this point that thc valve stem 6 is formed with a pair ot spaced apart integral plate; extensions or. ears 1S, 18 between which the .adjacent portion ot' the bar extends. The ears or extensions 1S, 18 areprovided with aligned openings l!) therethrough with which the openings 20 of a series ot' openings formed through the har T to extend transversely thereot' will register successivelyv as the bar T is moved about the axis ot the Vvalve stein G. The bar may be releasably locked against move. ment about the axis ot the valve stein G independent ot the extensions '18, lt by means ot' a locking pin 2l projected through the openings 1.9 and a selected one ol the openings 2tlg: The angular relation of the bar T to the horizontal when the valve 5 is in closed posit-ion can thus be varied within limits` and the quantity o'tfgwatcr permitted to pass into the tank 'lf prior tothe closianer ot the valve upon upward niovemei'it of the tloat l2 thus regulated.

.An outlet pipe Q2 extends through the ljiottom ol the tank and is secured to the inner casing' in. any suitable manner to provide afliquid-tilrht connection therewith.

I'llieupper end ot' the outlet pipe-Q2 extends verticalhY within the tank above the level ot the bottoni ot thetank and is t'ormed at its upper end to provide .a seat 23` for a closure or tlush valve disk El. )c gasket iu tho forni of al ring' made ot' a compressiblcmaterix'ilysucli as rubber is carried upon .thc lower 'tace o'li the disk 2l in position to enn'age the seat 2? and thus provide a liquid tight lit between the valve disk and its seat. 4.\ bar 2G is secured at to the valve diskillr and extends dialuotrically ot the latter intermediateo'l the ends ot the bar. The bar QG is pi votally suiuiiorted atQS intern'iediatc oi.' one end tliercoic and the connection at QT upon a support 2 9 which isupstandiug' trom 'the bottom oi the tank. ik float Si() is tixedlv attached to the bai 2G atthe end thereof The 'tree end portion ot the bar extends between spaced vertical portions Ell., 3Q of bars having horiz'ontal portions Il?) and :il respecthe inner casing tively. The horizontal. portion 33 has' an upturnedv end 35 attached to a side wall of The horizontal portion 3l superimposed upon the portion 33 and can be secured to the latter in adjusted position thereon by means of a bolt and nut arrangement $36, whereby the space between the verticalportions 3l and 52 can be varied to accommodate bars Q6 ot' di'tl'erent t-hicknesses and to release such hars.l Depending `flanges 37 formed on the horizontal 'portion 3l straddle the portion 33 and hold the latter against lateral movement relatively to the portion The vertical portion 3l ot the one guide bar described extends to the bottom ot' the tank and is secured at 37 to the bottoni ot the inner casing' 2. The portion 32 oilE the other bar extends laterally adjacent to its lower end at an appreciable distance above the bottom ot' the tank to provide a horizontal stop 3S against which one side ot' a si'ibstantially U-shaped portion 39 ot a spring catch #l0 abuts. The web ot the U-shaped portion of the spring' catch l() ex-v tends vertically in substantial alignment wit-h the portion 232 and one arm ot the U-shaped portion extends along` the bottom ot the tankvbeing; fashioned adjacent to its end at 4:1 to provide. a seat :tor a holding' pin l2 which is removably attached to the bott-om wall ot' the inner casing Q in any suitalile manner, as at fit-. 'l'he upper horizontal arm ot' the substantially U-shaped portion oit the sprngcatch extends adjacent to the-side wall. of the tank which is proximate to the end of the lowerniost arm, and is merged into an inclined portion 48 which inclines toward the proximate side wall and is secured to the latter at its upper end, as indicated at ll.- A shoe or projection upon the float l2 is adapted to engage the inclined portion #.l'l ot the spring catch upon a n'ioveuient ot the float downfardly to etlect a lateral shitting ol? the web portion" and the upper arm ofthe U-shaped spring;- catch against the action ot the lowermost arm of the catch, whereupon the web portion ot the spring catch will be moved away 'troni the vertical portion ill oi the one guide bar itor a purpose which will hereinafter be set tort-h.

(ill designates a bail or handle attached to the upper side ot the l'loat l2 whereby the latter can be li't'ted.

l? rom the torep'oinel .lescription o'lf various parts ot the device. the operation thcreoif ma)Y be readily understood, connected adjacent to its troc end bymeans ot a link or connecting rod -lG to an inter- .mcdiately pivoted operating'v member ,417 having' a vertically shittablc handle port-ion t8 extending` through a vertical slot -l-9 in one side.- ot' thc tank. A chain or like tlexiblemember, not shown.l depends ilroln the The bar Q6 isl 'outer end of the handle 48 to a position action with .the delivery conduit D. Upon -a' lowering of the water level within the tank, the Iioat l2 moves downward, carrying -with it the rod l() and operatingl the bar 7 to open the valve 5, thereby permitting the water from the supply conduit to flow into the tank.y When the free end of the bar 2G was nioved upward in the manner described between the vertical vguide portions 31a-nd 32, the web portion of'` the `substantially U-shaped spring catch `was f permitted to move `toward the portionll under the actuation of the lowermost arm of the U-shaped catch, so that the bar Q6 will besu'pported adjacent to its free end upon the uppermost arm of the U-shaped catch. lVhen the float l2 has descended a predetern'iined distance, the inclined portion 43 of the springl catch will be swung laterally o-n account of the engagmnent thereof `with the shoe or pro? jection yl5 and the web portion of the. spring catch will be moved away from. the portion 31 of theguide bar so that the bar 26 is permitted'to move between the web portion of the spring catch and the lower part ofl the portion 31. The valve disk 24 will be swung downward into position upon the seat to close the outlet :22 when the bar 26 is released and the float 30 moved upward by reason of a rise of water level within the tank. As a safety i'neasure, a projection or shoe 1 is provided upon the underside of the {ioat l2 in posit-ion to contact the free end of the bar 26 upon continued downward movement. of the float and to move the bar 2G and the valve disk 24k down 'ard to etlect the seatingl of the valve disk 24 before the vlloat l2 has reached the limit ot its movement downwardly. The l'loat l2 is provided with a suction chamber formed by a continuous flange 53 depending from the bottom thereof and being open at its lower end. An air vent 54. is formed through the Hange- 53 adjacent to the juncture of the latter with the bottom wall of the float. The 'float 30 is likewise formed with a suction chamber 55, which suction chamber is open at its lower end and is provided with an air vent 5G through the walls thereof at its upper end. Alfter the device is placed in operation, the suction chambers 52 and normally remain filled with water and the downward movement of the l'loats are thus facilitated upon llowering' of the water level within the tank.

The supply conduit extends from a n overhead source ofsupply through vthe upper part of the tank adjacent to the' bottom of the tank and very little-noise, if any, is `thus occasioned by the flow ot'- water to the tank to till the latter, since the discha-rgcrend of the supply cond-uit is below the water level within thetank at all times. 'A rell tube 57 of `conventional construction extendsfroin the lower end 4of the supply-conduit toy dis` charge into the upper end of an overiiow pipe 58. The latter comprises a verticalportion positioned adjacent to one side wall 'of n the tank and extending' from a point adjacent to the upper end of thetank to the bottom'andthen Vextends v.along the bottom to the outlet pipeQiZ, with which it communicates at 59.v A strap (S0 or the like is provided to-hold the vertical portion ofthe overfio-w pipe in juxtaposed vrelation to a side wall of the tank. which may be a thin metal sheet, is secured uponv the tank by means of screws 62 or the. like.

Obviously, my invention is susceptible of embodiment in forms other than that illustrated in the yacconipanying,l drawings, and I therefore consider as my own all modifications of the forms ofthe device disclosed herein, which fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims. I

I claim v l. A tank of the character described comprising a container body adapted to hold a liquid and being provided with an inlet and with an outlet throughthe bottom thereof, a vertically movabletloat within the container and adapted vto rest upon a liquid therein, means operated by they Hoat for controlling the inlet,-a closure for the outlet, a pivoted arm secured intermediately to said closure, a lever and link arrangement connected to said arm at one end thereof and having a portion extending exteriorly of the container body, whereby said closure can be lifted from closing` positionupon manual operation of the lever and link arrangement, and a float upon the end of the bar remote `from that attached to the lever and link arrangement for returning the closure to closed position.

A tank of the character described comprising a container body adapted to hold a liquid and being` provided with an inlet and with an outlet through the bottom thereof, a vertically movable float within the container and adapted to rest upon a liquid therein, means operated by the'tloat for controlling` the inlet, a closure for the outlet, a piv-y oted arm secured intermediately to said clo sure, a lever and link ar angement connected to said arm at one end thereof and havinga portion vextci'iding exteriorly of the container body, whereby said closure can be lifted from closing position upon manual operation of the lever and link arrangement, a

A lid or cover (lfloat upon the end of the bar remote troni that attached to the lever and link arrange- .nient for returning the closure to closed lpo'- sition, a spring catch inherentlyv actuated to releasably,"l engage `the pivoted bar upon movei'nent'oit thevelosure from Closing position to prevent a return lnoven'ient oi the closure operating bar, and means carried by the tiret named 'lioat for 'engzlrging the spring catch upon a determined. downward movement ot the float to effect the release of the closure operating bar. f

3. A tank ot the elia aoter described Coni prising a. Container body adapted to hold a liquid and being provided with an inlet and with an outlet through thebottoin thereot', a vertically movable float within the Container and adapted lto rest yupon a liquid therein, means operated by the float for cont-rolling the inlet, a. closure 'for the out'- let, a pivoted arm secured interlnediately to said closure, a lever and link arrangement connected to `said arm at one end thereoil and having a portion extending exteriorly of the container body, whereby Said closure can be litted from Closing position upon manual operation of the lever and link arrangement, a float. upon the end of the bar remote from `that attached to the lever andl link arrangement for returning the Closure to closed position, a Spring catch inherently actuated to releasabl),v 'engage the pivoted bar upon movement' of the closure from closing position to prevent a return movement ofthe closure operatingbar, means carried by the tiret named float for engaging the spring catch upon a determined downward n1ovement ol the float to etlect the release of the 

